davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05

agent of Boulanger, after spending two
or three weeks in examining and investi-
eating a new magazine rifle, which Is the
invention of an old sharp-shooter in
this city, made an offer of 100000 for
the invention. The Yankee demanded
S1.COO,0O0, and after week or two of
negotiations the agent sailed for France
to report to his superior and secure in
structions, having meanwhile secured a
two weeks option On the gun at 81 ,000,-
900, in order to hedge it against other
purchasers. The FreLch Government
has paid as high as S1,200,000 for the
patent rights and control of a single fire.
arm.
Not one of the European Governments
will purchase any gun that is to be fur
nished to another nation. Recently the
French Cover Aent, after having examin-
ed new magazine rifle, agreed to pay
100000 for it, but, discovering that some
twenty pieces had been manufactured and
presented to company of German sharp
shooters who live in the same town with
the inventor, the French autho rites i'm
mediately notified him that unless he
could procure these arms and turn them
over with the rights, the sale was off. He
was unable to procure the guns, and so
lost his bargain
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
A FEW POULTRY SELECTIONS.

It is the system we adopt in feeding
and caring for them that turns the scales
in profit and losses Oh fowls.
In buying breeding stock don't work
on the principle that bird costing one
dollar will produce you chicks worth
five. "Like begets like" as the saying
is, and poor birds must invariably pro-
duce poor chicks.
The demand for improved poultry was
never better than now. This is an age of
progress; he who would keep up with the
times must improve not only his poultry
but his other live stock as well.
Thirty years ago the common dung
hill held the sway until replaced by i'm
proved fowls, AID the value of these ia
creased as their merits became known
until their breeding has became a leadisg
and profitable occupation in the hands of
enterprising breeders.
A shallow tub kept well filled with
water will afford plenty of bathing room
for ducklings until they are two or three
months old.
To make poultry keeping business
remember these conditions: space for
range, attention TO health, proper feed,
and soil and market, must be estimated
and provided for.
There is a constant stream Of business
flowing Somewhere. He who puts out a
small embankment from the shore into
the shallow waters of the stream will in
tercept but small portion OF the current,
while he who builds out twice as far and
reaches deeper water feels the effect of
more active movement and sees that pOr-
ton which falls to his share doubled and
quadrupled, and when he strikes out
boldly and fairly dams the stream so
that nothing can pass without being
aware of his object, he received the
largest possible return. His efficiency is
increased in much greater ratio than his
expenditure. Advertisements are the
most cumulative business investments
known, and the most liberal advertisers
are invariably the most successful of
men, and success we'll followed leads
to new success.
If eggs are packed with the small end
downward, and in layers without touch
ing each other, with plenty of wheat or
corn as packing material they will keep
fer Matching purposes for two months.
Never let eggs get chilled that are to
be used for Matching purposes. They
should be collected during the cold
weather every time hen is heard to
| cackle. The rule is early and often.
The symptoms of cholera are sudden
and violent diarrhea, greenish drop
pings which become thin and whiteish
extreme weakness and a nervous, anxious
! look about the face. Death ensues in
about II to SO hours.
In buying clancy" eggs remember that
the dealer cannot tell in advance what
| the result of the hatch will be. Always
endeavor to be charitable with him; he
receives quite an amount of abuse al
though innocent.
If a hen only lays one egg week for
egg additional is clear profit. If hen
lays three eggs week she will give
double the profit derived from a hen
that lays two eggs The greater the
number of eggs the cheaper the cost of
production in proportion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05

pigs, calves, lambs and colts become to a
farmer whose heart, affections and social
nature are all right. The sight and asso-
citation with these lovely little domestic
pets are one of the best compensations
one gets for his care of them and the
drudgery he undergoes On the farm. And
if there be no love and pleasure in these
little Innocents, he better quit the farm,
as he will never succeed in stock raising.
There must be something more and bet
ter to induce one to care properly for
them than the mere idea of the money to
be got for them when slaughtered. If
this be all, attempts to prosper by raising
stock will be miserable failures.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Improvements in Hog Feeding.
Prairie Farmer.

The prevalence of diseases among
swine, has turned the attention of farm
ert to the matter of foods. Many were
so thoroughly imbued with the belief that
a corn diet is injurious, that they attrib
uted all diseases to it. But the hog chol-
era visited alike the corn feeder and the
apostle of grass, bran, oil cake, etc. The
firts lesson learned by the over-Zealous
anti-corn feeder, is that cholera Is con-
tagious, and will attack hogs which have
the best of food and care. After the
storm of cholera has blown past, and the
farmer reviews his experience, he con-
cludes the disease must be born occasion
ally; but that the things learned about
feeding may be aduantageously applied
in rearing hogs. Pastures seeded and
fenced, to produce grass for hogs, have
been found cheaper than corn for sum.
NOR feeding, and hogs thrive better. The
comfortable sheds built have shown him
that he can have early pigs, making more
Of their growth with grass and clover,
and maturing in the early winter, saw
ing the expense of wintering.
Bran and oil meal Stops have been used
and the fact that brood sows do better
when fed some loosening food has been
learned. Experience has strengthened
the belief that corn has not all the ele-
ments Of food in proper proportion for
the growing animal, and that supple
mentary foods are needed, Which contain
more bone and flesh forming material.
In fact, a new system has been adopted
in the West, and has proven better than
the old small pen, ear corn method.
Farmers who have kept their hogs on
pasture, housed them carefully, and have
bred from stock similarly treated, see
that a slightly greater per cent. have re-
sisted the cholera than have hogs kept
after the old plan. Misfortunes have
their lessons, and cholera may be credit
ed with intesesting farmers in better
food and care for hogs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Care of SoWs.
Colman's Rural World.

As this is the usual narrowing time, the
crop of hogs for next season depends
largely on the care and attention paid to
incoming flows this spring. Old and
practical hog -aisers need no words on
this subject, but new beginners do, and
some of them are calling on US for infor-
nation. sow expected to come in
should be put in separate quarters some
days before her time, SO that she will get
over her uneasiness and restlessness over
closer confinement. While she should
have the most comfortable quarters for
her bed-chamber, it is not best to deprive
her of open-air exercise if it be possible.
While her bed should be warm and dry,
she should have but little of it, and it
were better if the bedding were of short
cat straw, or at least very short straw
The SOW will naturally make her bed ia
the corner of her pen near the walls. If
there are not benches around the pen
fastened against the walls, about s or 10
inches high and as many wide, there is
danger of the yoRBg pigs being crushed
between the SOW and the wall OF the pen.
But if the bench is made right, when the
SOW is in the act of lying Gown or turn
ing over the pigs can slip under the
bench aud escape being crushed or over
laid. A careful preparation of this
nature will save many thousands of pigs
for the hog crop of next winter. A SOW
should be disturbed as little as possible
for at least three days after narrowing.
They need no gorging with extra feed.
Cool water to quench her fever. iand warm
slop, when she demands it, is about all
that is needed. Generally nature teaches
the SOW the niece ssity of quiet rest and a
reasonable demand, for food. Little
sleek, chubby Roland China pigs are deep
ly interesting to the true agriculturist,
and he must not disturb the SOW by show
ing the pigs, or in attempts to fat them
too soon.
We are aware how interesting young
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Clam BuncO.
New York Herald.


Although generations have dug for il
in vain there are lots of people who still
just know that the late Capt. Kidd made
savings bank of that portion of the
New Jersey coast that borders Monmouth
county.
They are mostly honest fishermen who
whistle for the wind and never dreamed
of clam bunco.
For one day there was lively boom in
buried treasure. The next day there
were fifty very mad clam-diggers and
one wicked stranger who had lots of
CLAIMS.
One night, while the moon shone Sc
renely on his sinful slough hat, the wick
ed stranger dropped two or three quarts
of lead half dollars and brass half eagles
over the clam beds. Then, disguised ia a
pair of rubber boots and an assumed
name, he hied him forth the next day
with the cla:a diggers as one of them
Suddenly he became greatly excited over
digging up some of his own coin. II
took but few minutes to impart the ex-
citement to the whole crowd when they
saw, held up in the wicked strangers
hands, the actual realization of their
many nightmares about Capt. Kidd's
treasure.
They commenced to hoe up that sand
bar as though bent on digging through
to China. The wicked stranger encour-
aged them, but he didn't blister his hands
hoeing.
CLAIMS were turned up by the bushel
but no one paid any attention to them.
They couldn't have been hired to dig
CLAIMS with so much energy. Then the
big red sun went down behind the sand
hills and the wicked stranger winked at
it.
The treasure diggers had to cease their
search for Spanish gold and went home
frenzied with excitement, building air
castles in which clam digging had no
part. They had found about two quarts
of coin and it was good starter.
Naturally they wanted to celebrate their
good luck.
They offered some of the coin they had
dug up in payment for the inspiration to
celebrate.
SITS counterfeit," said the storekeeper
when he tried it with his teeth.
Then they were mad.
But they were mad all over in the morn
ing. The wicked stranger, with some
accomplices, had meanwhile scooped all
the clans into schOOner-there were
piles of them, two feet deep, all over the
bed-and as he had good reasons for wish
ing to stay in the world in which he was
best acquainted, had sailed away in the
night.
The next day the diggers went down to
the beds consoled with the thoughts of
lots of CLANS if nothing else. And then,
when they found how wicked that wicked
stranger had been, there were great big,
round oaths at the sun, moon, stars, the
clam beds, the waves, and everything
that was handy to swear at, and devoutly
prayed that the wicked stranger and all
his family will come down and visit them
some day.
Anyone who contemplates going down
On the Jersey coast just now, and talking
about Capt. Kidd, had much better not
take his life with him, for if he does he
will lose it.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
A Whistling Mouse.
Louisville Courier Journal.


For some time past the family of Mrs.
Belle Barnard, at eighteenth and Walnut
streets, have been very much annoyed by
sounds in The bedrooms at night, as if
someone was walking about the house
and softly whistling. The mysterious
noises were kept for two or three weeks,
and, although everybody in the house
tried hard to discover whence they came,
they were always unsuccessful. Some of
the ladies at last became very much
frightened, and the house was thought to
be haunted. One popularity was that as
long as a light was kept burning in any
one of the rooms the whistIing was never
heard in that apartment. The myster-
ious noises in the Barnard's house was
bors, and number of them
visited the place. When the light
were extinguished the soft whistlipg was
clearly audible. They also tried to dis
cover the source of the sounds, but, like
the family were unable to dc so.
Friday night a mouse trap was set in
front of the fireplace in one of the rooms
and before the inmates had long been in
bed the click of the trap spring was
heard. Afterward the whistling began,
as it had done in many previous nights,
but different from those occasions. when
the whistle travelled from room to room
The sound was stationary and seemed to
come from the the trap on the hearth
A light was struck, the whistling ceased
and they found small gray mouse in
the trap. In the dark all during tn e
night the little rodent whistled and sang
This was the cause of all the mystery,
and when the mouse was examined tn Q
next day curious one he was found to
be. His head is terribly deformed, the
eyes being where the mouth should be,
and the mouth between tho front legs.
The strange noise is made by the animal
in forcing air in breathing from the
lungs through the ears, that being the
only outlet. The mouse is kept in dark
cage by Mrs. Barnard, and everybody
living in the neighborhood has seen the
deformed whistling mouse.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
MY HOUR.

A sleepy head lies upon my breast.
A dimpled cheek touches my face
AS softly my little one sinks to rest,
CIasped in my loving embrace
The white lids over the blue eyes lay,
The red lips are half apart
And the griefS and sorrows that crowd my aay
Creep silently out of my heart.
OH in this pitiful life of care,
With its transient dream of bliss
Where the scoffer's sheer mingles with our
prayer.
Where love betrays with kiss,
When the pretty head lies on my breast,
Which the world has not beguil'd
| thank thee, Lord. for my hour of rest
In the eve with my little child
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Feeding Monkeys.

Great care has been taken with
our monkeys during the month of March"
said Mr.. Rejche, the Park Row animal
importer to New York correspondent of
the st. Louis Republican. Monkeys are
much more susceptible to changes in the
weather than men. There is one who is
suffering from deficient nutrition or liver
complaint" continued Mr.. Reiche point
to a woeful-looking monk who was utter
ing a sound like that emitted from a
small fog-horn.
The monkeys are served with four
courses of food twice day. The first
course consists of small frying pan full
of diluted milk. One monk, with blue
side whiskers, buried his nose in the milk
and then carefully wiped his r1uzzle on a
board. A rich brown South American
puma, in cage above that of the monks
had been served a small frying pan full
of cooked beef. The handle of the frying
pan projected from between the bars of
the cage. The monk saw an opportunity
to secure an unsccustOmed morsel, and he
climbed up the iron bars between him and
liberty and grabbed the handle. The
puma growled q snarling protest and
put his paw on the frying pan. The monk
was not dismayed, however, bat kept on
rolling the pan until the meat hal been
shifted down near the handle of the fry
ing pan. Then he dropped the handle
and Selling piece of the beef began to
devour it.
When the big, solemn 1875 pouEd baboon
had his share of milk and water and the
thirst of thirty other monks had been
assuaged, the second course, consisting
of stale bread, was passed around, The
monks did not take so kindly to
the bread and ats only little after biting
off the crust. But the onions
served were heartily relished. So fond
indeed was the blue-whiskered citizen
from an Artisan jungle of this Jersey
tidbit that he ate ais own share and then
pulled his mate out of corner by the
ear, soandly cuffed her ears, and appro-
priated her portion OF the fragrant vege-
table.
The fourth and last course consisted of
dried corn, which was rained In upon the
monks like hailstones. The animals
showed their taste in disposing of the
corn. They seemed sufused with sense
of repletion, and they cracked the tora
kernels of corn with the leisure of
gentlemen picking their after dinner
nuts.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
The Ingenuity of SwindIers.

A couple of rascals are swlndiing the
farmers CT Greene county, Pa, In an in
genious manner. They read the local
newspapers carefully, and when farmer
publishes an estray notice, No. calls to
look at the animal. The farmer shows the
beast, and the fellow decides it is not his
Then he returns to his partner and de
scribes it infinitely to him. No. 2 goes to
the farmer and, after proving by thor
ough description that he is the owner of
the animal, says he cannot take it away,
and offers to sell it at bargain. The
farmer buys it, and in a few days the
rightful owner comes and claims the AMI
NAL.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Labor Saving in Handling Manure.
Philadelphia Record

HDuaGeipHla RECORD.
The importance Of thoroughly decom-
posing the manure in winter for use in
the spring is shown ia the labor of haul
ing and handling it. The greater the
bulk the more labor required, and that,
too, without really adding larger pro-
portion of fertiliZing material to the soil.
AS manure can not benefit plants unless
some portions be soluble Or in a fine
condition, so as to be readily acted upon
by the air, moisture, frost aHd warmth,
it may be observed that the more COM
plete the work of reducing the manure in
the heap the shorter the time required
for its disintegration in the soil. When
large mass of bulky material is handled
and bauled to the fields the farmer not
only sustains loss in the inconvenience of
handling the coarse litter, as we'll as
placing it on the ground in an unfit con-
dition for his purpose. but he also han
dies and hauls large quantity of water,
which exists not only in the com position
of the material, but also by reason of be-
ing absorbed. AS spring is very busy
desire at that time is to save
labor, yet he overlooks the fact
that much of the labor of hauling and
distributing manure could be lessened by
properly managing the heap during the
winter months, when work to be done is
not so pressing as at other times. It is
not the bulky mass that feeds the plants.
but the fertilizing matter contained
therein. No correct estimates of manur-
ial value can be given, but, accepting the
average cord Of manure to be $500
pounds, the former will haul 5000
pounds of water and nearly 500 pounds
of silica in order to but upon his soil
d ,out % pounds of nitrogen, Is pounds
of magnesia, % pounds of potash and
81 pounds of phospheric acid, which are
the real materials he is hauling, much of
remainder being of but little value. If
he can by properly managing the ma
nure hep reduce the bulk, he may not
add anything of additional value, but he
will have reduced the labor required for
handling and hauling the manure, while
the fine condition Of the material will be
favorable for the rapid appropriation of
the plant food by the crops. Every farm
er who has undergone the disagreeable
task of handling partially decomposed
cornstalks when hauling manure, can
easily make a comparison with such by
the side CT thoroughly decomposed fine
compost, and it is far better to have al!
this work done in the barn yard than to
place the manure on the field and wait
until it shall be done for him.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05

Gov. Gordon, of Georgia, was taken
suddenly i'll while delivering the mem-
orial address at Augusta Tuesday, and had
to be carried from the platform.
Only two of the original Hutchinson
family of singers are now living Ihey
are John and Abby. The former lives
at Lynn, Mass, and the latter IN New
York city.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05

Wall street is inquiring what has be-
come of all the trade dollars. Up to the
present time the sub-treasury has received
but about $2,70O,000 for redemption and
the applications have nearly ceased. The
few that are offered com chiefly from the
country. The theory is that when the
coin was selling at 85 cents, many were
melted and used for manufacturing pur-
poses. The coin being 800 fine and con-
tanning 420 grains, it was cheaper than
bullion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
An Untimely Taking Off
New York Star.

Husband readipg the paper)-I see
that Prince Harold is dead.
Wife ian Anglomaniac, inexpressibly
shocked lis it possible? It seems too
sad for anything. What was the cause
of his death?
Husband He trotted mile in 2:2625,
and then died of blind stsggers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
Watching For the Newest Rifles.
Philadelphia Press.

The European natious, with war star
ing them constantly in the face, have had
agents going through this country to
take advantage of inventive genius which
may have been exerted in the manufacture
and improvement of firearms and i'm
plenents of warfare. I am told that an
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
GOLDFISH AND POTATOES.

A1ter DOII1ng saIG cUuHsH, separate
from the bones, picking as fine IS posi-
BILE. Then take equal quantities of boiled
mashed potatoes and fish, seasoned with
pepper, salt, chopped hard boiled eggs
and small quantity of butter. Make the
mixture into balls or cakes and fry in
boiling lard, moistening them with rich
milk or cream, which will assist in the
handling.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05

just ready to serve. Another sauce is
made by mixing q pint of cream and
milk, adding two eggs, well beaten, the
juice of 3 lemon, and salt and pepper.
Place on fire and stir constantly until it
becomes thick.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
COOKERY NOTES.
A FRENCH WAX WITH CHICKENS.

FRENCH WAX WITH CHICKENS.
Take one or more chickens, dressed
and trussed as for roasting, except that
no stutiing will be required. Tie thin
slices of bacon over the breasts, with
stout thread, and place in a convenient
sized saucepan with small French carrot
medium sized onion stuck with two
cloves, and a sprig of parsley; add any
kind of broth, or failing to have that, hot
water enough to halfcoyer them. Cover the
saucepan closely, and simmer very slowly
until tender, which sh 3uld be in about ~
minutes if the fowls are young. Re-
move them to baking pan, haste with
melted butter, dredge with -four and set
in the oven for five minutes to brown.
Have ready some rice crcquettes, put the
chickens on hot dish, garnish with the
croquettes, and.serve with the broth in
which they were stewed, strained and
thiekened.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
HOW TO STEW FISH.

Rub with salt and pepper and place in
pan, adding one pint of water to each
five pounds of fish. When about half
done season with salt and pepper, tea
cup of flour, a half-pound butter, parsley
and thyme. The seasoning. if convenient,
can be stirred into pint of oysters, or,
in place of oysters, six hard-boiled eggs,
sliced, may be used. Serve with gravy in
the dish